I. THE CONTEXT TO BE PREPARED TO 'RIDE THE WAVE'

A. Vision: waves crushing on shore of NL. Presence of Holy Spirit coming like a wave. Many not prepared. Q: how can we be ready for the next wave of the Spirit - to 'Ride the Wave'!

B. The greatest revival and crisis in history is soon to come. We know that a great awakening is soon to sweep across the nations. We look with confidence to God's promises to pour out His Spirit to empower His people to bring the gospel to all nations. The Spirit is preparing the Church for the greatest revival and the most intense pressure in human history. Radical changes are needed, but they will surely come. The Church will be prepared before Jesus returns (Rev. 19:7). What the Western Church accepts as normal will change dramatically. The light is getting brighter as the darkness is becoming darker. Issue during pressure is: being crushed or used?!

17 It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams...18 I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy...
20 before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. (Acts 2:17-20)

14 This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Mt. 24:14)

C. Question is: How do we cooperate with the Spirit so that we may walk in the intimacy and power that the NT Church walked in? Part of the answer is to embrace the fasted lifestyle. This speaks of walking in the spirit of fasting; in food, finances, use of our time, our words, and our energy.

D. Jesus' pastoral advice in light of the great glory & crisis in the End-Times was to watch or to develop a heart connection with the Spirit as they cultivate intimacy with Jesus as Bridegroom (Mk. 13:32-37). This seems impractical to some, however, if we do this then we will receive instruction, strength and courage to face everything else. (Most practical thing=to grow in love)
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house (place of inheritance) to be broken into. (Mt. 24:42-43)

E. To watch is to establish a lifestyle of encountering Jesus. This is key in hindering Satan from stealing our inheritance. Our primary inheritance is our heart connection with Jesus. Satan steals our ministry inheritance by leading us away from our primary inheritance:devotion toJesus
10 The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (Jn. 10:10)

II. THE PARABLE OF THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS (MT. 25:1-13)

A. In Mt. 25:1-30, Jesus taught two parables focused on how a leader must live in the End-Times. The first parable on the wise and foolish virgins spoke of leaders connecting with the Spirit as they cultivate intimacy with Jesus as the Bridegroom God (Mt. 25:1-13). The second parable was on being diligent in our ministry assignment, especially when it is small and hard (Mt. 25:14-30).
1 Then the Kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom 2 Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil ...with their lamps (Mt. 25:1-3)

B. Then: We ask, "When is then?" The word "then" points back to the end-of-the-age theme just emphasized in Mt. 24. This is when the Kingdom functions like virgins meeting the Bridegroom. Virgins: all believers are as virgins before God because of Jesus' righteousness. Lamp: each of these virgins had a lamp which spoke of a ministry that brought God's light to others.

C. These are ministries who went out to meet or who encountered Jesus as the Bridegroom God. The 'oil of intimacy' speaks of our personal heart connect with the Holy Spirit as we cultivate our secret life in God. The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil (pursued ministry as their priority over getting oil – pers. relship with Jesus). The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps (pursued oil as their priority before ministry). Make the necessary effort to encounter Him.
5 While the Bridegroom delayed, they all slept. 6 At midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the Bridegroom is coming, go out to meet Him." 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (Mt. 25:5-7)

D. They all slept and all trimmed their lamps. Sleeping in this parable is not bad. This speaks of living in context to the natural processes of life. We sustain our intimacy with Jesus in the midst of the rigors of the routine and comings & goings of life, with natural dynamics.

E. Sleeping can be symbolic of being spiritually asleep instead of awake and alert as in the parable of the watchful servant (Mk. 13:33-37; Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14; 1 Thes. 5:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:34). Sleep sometimes simply signifies living in context to the natural order of life. The wise and unwise both sleep or participate in the necessary (Mt. 25:5; Mk. 4:27).
35 Watch...for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight...or in the morning - 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. (Mk. 13:33-37)

III. JESUS EMPHASIZED THE GREAT NEED TO CULTIVATE OIL IN THE END-TIMES

8 The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." 9 The wise answered, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves."

A. The foolish ministries recognized their mistake in neglecting oil. They grieved over their lack of oil and their diminishing ministry. First, we can lose ground that we previously gained in our heart and/or ministry. What we gain in God today (heart reality and ministry impact) can be lost tomorrow. Over the years, one may develop a larger ministry profile (more popular) yet their heart reality and true ministry impact is less than it was ten years previously. In this parable, all ten virgin ministries started off with oil and a shining ministry that brought light to others. Second, there are some things that we "can't borrow". They thought the secret history in God can be given to another. Spiritual preparedness is not transferable. No one can get oil for another.

B. The wise understood their limitation and acknowledged that their spiritual history in God and their spiritual preparedness could not be transferred to others. Therefore, they refused opportunities for increase that were not God's best for their life in God. Jesus exhorts us to "buy oil" or to engage in the God ordained process of acquiring intimacy with God. In buying oil, we do not earn it but we "invest ourselves in a costly way" to position ourselves to receive it.

C. The wise said "No" because they understood their limitations and did not have the ability to give more without losing their oil. Some ministries have a "messiah complex" with an overestimation of their importance to the success of God's Kingdom in their area. Other ministries are addicted to being popular so they cannot say no to an opportunity to network more or to appear available to everyone. Others are entrenched in the fear of man so they cannot turn people down. It is essential that we have the ability to say "No" not so that we have more time for entertainment and recreation but so that we can seek the Lord diligently in the Word.

IV. BEING PREPARED TO RIDE THE WAVES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: WATCH THEREFORE

10 While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came (progressive seasons of revival), and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door (of opportunity for usefulness) was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "He answered, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (Mt. 25:10-12)

A. This passage is NOT a warning to foolish ministries of losing their salvation. The Lord did not know or recognize them as those who engaged with Him as the Bridegroom. "I do not know" you describes their lack of intimacy not their lack of salvation as when Jesus said, "I never knew you!' (Mt. 7:23). Jesus did not refer to them as evil (Mt. 24:48); wicked and lazy (Mt. 25:26) or cursed (Mt. 25:41). Jesus wants to "know" us in relationship in context to His Bridegroom heart in our private life before He chooses to anoint us with that message on public platforms.

B. The ancient Jewish custom of that day involved celebrating a wedding over the course of several nights (ideally 7 nights, for a wealthy family). Each night of celebration had different purposes. Those who were closest to the couple to be married were invited on the first night and subsequently each of the following nights. As the Jewish wedding celebration continued over seven days with each evening highlighting something different, so also God is releasing different "waves of the Spirit" that are building up to the fullness of the End-Time revival which leads to the Second Coming. Then comes the grand finale of the Wedding Supper.

C. Only those who were "ready" by being close to the Bridegroom went in to celebrate. 1. Those who were ready went in with Him – place of usefulness in the End-Time revival 2. The others cried out, "Open to us!' – give us a place of usefulness in End-Time revival

D. The foolish virgins said, 'Lord, open to us!' or open a door of opportunity of usefulness for us as you did for the wise virgins (2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3; Rev. 3:8). Many will miss out on future opportunities to be used in their fullest way. The issue here is that the foolish virgins would needlessly miss out on the first night of the wedding celebration. The principle is that many ministries will also needlessly miss out on "part of the End-Time revival wedding activities."

E. The point of the parable is found here, vs. 13. Jesus' advice in light of the great amount of work related to the End-Time revival is to watch or to develop a heart connection the Spirit and Jesus as the Bridegroom God. His main emphasis in preparing for the end times was to watch, or develop a heart connection with God. God is now preparing leaders for the future waves of the Spirit. He insists that only prepared vessels with spiritual reality lead each wave.

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

V. BEING PREPARED FOR RIDING THE NEXT WAVE THROUGH A FASTED LIFESTYLE

A. Fasting is part of the normal Christian life. It is often thought of as an optional discipline. Jesus said, "When you fast," fasting is normative for disciples! Many fear fasting but the fear of fasting is actually far worse than the fast itself. Fasting is not too hard. It is a lie that the demands of our modern pace of life make fasting impractical for today's Christian. It is a false belief that fasting is radical Christianity, and thus optional. Fasting is normal and basic. We are called to fast regularly. Fasting is for the common, weak, ordinary, pizza-loving person. Fasting is always voluntary. Through leaders may invite you to join with a specific goal and for a specific time, fasting can never be forced or mandated.
17 When you fast...18 your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Mt. 6:17-18)

B. Jesus called us to fast because He knows that its rewards will far outweigh its difficulties. With boldness, Jesus emphasized that the Father will reward fasting (Mt. 6:17). This proclamation alone makes fasting very important. God rewards fasting, yet these rewards are not earned by us. Throughout history, men have fasted with the wrong idea as they sought to earn God's favor or man's approval. Some try to prove their dedication to Him or to earn His favor. This is not what God is after. We do not fast to prove anything to God or to deserve His favor. We fast to position ourselves to receive freely from His grace and be preoccupied with Jesus and His will.

C. Some of our rewards are internal, as our hearts encounter Him in a new depth (enlarge capacity in our spirit to experience God/expend our heart). Touch of the Spirit sets heart on fire: heart that's alive! Some of the rewards are external, as our circumstances are touched by God's power. Relationships, resources, health, power, anointing. Why fast? We fast both to encounter more of His heart to change our heart and to walk in more of God's power to change the world! We don't have to choose; right order. Money, fame, fortune, stadium; dull, bored heart. The goal of Christianity is not personal power, prestige, special knowledge or experience, but God's personal presence experienced upon our hearts! The internal impact is what we are after.

D. We do not fast to motivate God to pay attention to us or to love us, but rather to receive the affection that He already has for us - it is not to move His heart, but to move ours. We don't fast to make Him like us; we fast because we understand that He already likes us. Our hearts are prone to dullness and lethargy, if we don't confront this we become hardened without realizing it. Fasting tenderizes our emotions and causes our spiritual dullness to be diminished and we are able to experience the affections of God in greater measure: to feel ALIVE! Thrilling.

E. The oil of the Holy Spirit touches our hearts in different ways /Five rewards of the fast:

1. Fasting leads to tenderizing our hearts so that we feel God's presence: love and desire for us.

2. Fasting leads to changing our desires and enlarging our desire for righteousness (Heb. 1:9). Fasting helps to shifts desires: from bitterness, pornography, anger, dullness, addictions.

3. Fasting leads to increasing our understanding of the Word and receiving prophetic dreams.

4. Fasting leads to making our body healthier and changing what we desire to eat and drink God designed our bodies to operate at their best with regular fasting. Body:cleansed and strengthened.

5. Fasting leads to strengthening our sense of identity as sons of God before the Father and as a
bride before the Son. Deep within we have the desire to know that we are loved and valued. Fasting postures our heats to experience more of Gods affection and love - our identity is rooted Only when we understand His great desire we can stand in confidence even in our weakness. If we do not feel loved and in love, we are spiritually bored and thus are more vulnerable to compromise, lacking in courage and strength. Fasting fuels our experience of Gods love!

F. Fasting positions our hearts to be expanded/enlarged as we encounter Jesus as our Bridegroom God. Our spiritual capacity to receive from God increases. We experience God more. Fasting before our Bridegroom God is a catalyst to speed up the depth and the measure in which we receive from the Lord. We receive greater measures of revelation at an accelerated pace, and with a deeper impact upon our hearts. There is nothing more glorious then to feel His pleasure. Many are only aware of the negative and difficult side of fasting. The new information to most is that fasting brings amazing benefits with regard to our intimacy with God. Benefits: love to fast.

G. Jesus tells of the cost beforehand. A life that is thriving in God, soaring in love with God and serving others will be narrow and difficult to sustain. Matt 7:13-14, Enter by the narrow gate..14...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life (a heart thriving in God) and there are few who find it (because of the difficulty). Flesh/society rages against this lifestyle.

H. Fasting is, by definition, abstaining from food. Fasting embraces voluntary weakness in order to experience more of God's power and presence. It is a paradox that we become weak in the natural in order to receive more strength from the Spirit. 9 My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9). The release of God's power in Paul's life was connected to his willingness to embrace weakness. This revelation is foundational to understanding the purpose of fasting. The "strength made perfect" refers to Paul experiencing more of God's power. Many desire to walk in "perfected power," (on heart & ministry) but do not want to embrace the necessary weakness. The phrase "the fasted lifestyle" means to voluntarily subject ourselves to the vulnerabilities and difficulties of fasting (warring lifestyle).

I. Fasting is not about food, it's about physical and mental weakness. This is the most challenging issue in fasting. Some difficulties of fasting: Thinking blurry, forgetful of things, movement wobbly, communication feeble, memory foggy. * Physical discomforts because of the detoxification process, especially on the second day. You may have hunger pains or dizziness. Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches; is part of the detoxification process. * Physical annoyances may include dizziness, weariness, tiredness, nausea and sleepiness. Lightheaded when rise too quickly. * We may lose weight first several months of regular fasting, but because our metabolism eventually slows down some people end up gaining weight even through they eat less. * While fasting it is normal to feel easily annoyed and irritated; often due to our hypersensitivity to noise, touch and activity. * It is common to feel periods of heaviness while fasting. But even when we feel "down", we experience intimacy with Jesus. * We can't function in the way we usually do When we fast we are vulnerable and are unable to do many tasks because of the lack of natural strength. The temptation is to eat food, to acquire strength, so we can more effectively lead or do the task. Our natural man screams of the foolishness of fasting. In Gods economy we will produce far more with renewed spiritual vitality, in the long run, our effectiveness is far greater because God's favor and activity are released in the midst of our weakened labors. Note: The rewards truly outweigh the difficulties though!

J. We are exchanging strength for spiritual power. Most times we don't feel or see the fruit of it. This is common. More is happening than meets the eye. Our inward man is being impacted! Same with reading Bible: often don't feel the impact immediately. Breakthrough often comes after a fast, not during it. Do not listen to the lie that nothing is happening! It is our conviction that every fast done in faith will be rewarded (Heb 11:6). Increased exp. of His presence, love. Transformation is happening in us that we cannot immediately notice, but it is real. (Breakthrough we long for will not happen w/o spiritual intensity, lifestyle of 'spiritual violence)

K. Fasting isn't really about being hungry, but about experiencing more of God. Fasting does not restrain our pleasure; it enhances it. Sounds odd to natural mind. Fasting restrains our physical pleasure, but it enhances our spiritual pleasure. Our greatest pleasure comes by feasting on the person of Jesus. Fasting is an exchange where we abstain from certain things to "feast" on God's word and prayer, whereby we experience more of His Presence. Our soul is not designed to be a slave to physical pleasures and passions. It is wrong to let any pleasure such as food, recreation or our social life become more important to us then God. When we overindulge in the natural our spirit man is weak and lethargic. We lose spiritual hunger. We lose the ache in our heart for God. We don't want distant memories of experiencing His pleasure/happiness in God.

L. Many of us experience a "dangling in-between" as we voluntary fast from old stimulants and comforts, but the spiritual stimulants have not yet come alive in us. When we don't experience the superior pleasures that we're laboring for, we often go back to the old stimulants for comfort. In this transition, we are left for a time in the raw crankiness of free falling. In that place, God births humility. The transition period will end, though. He who hungers after God will be filled.

M. Look around: " I truly must not get it. This only seems to hard to me." There is a definite tension in the Kingdom. The tension lies between the ease and the difficulty of a life of righteousness. Jesus says His yoke is easy and His burden light, but He also said that the way is narrow and few find it. Is the way of true Christianity difficult on our flesh and only few find it? Yes. It becomes easy on our spirit and is an easy burden once we decide to live by God's values. His burden being light is found in the love that fuels our heart ever day. It is difficult on our pride, lust and money supply. Plus relational conflicts for the uncompromising. It is not complicated, but it is difficult to deny our fleshly desires and pride. Some have distorted idea of grace. We think that if our activities are motivated by grace they will be easy. It is easy to be in God's favor and receive His love, thus it is easy. Yet it takes a resolute heart to stay the course over the years.

N. Prepare for opposition. On the day of your fast you can bet that pie will be at the office or in class. Your spouse or mom will suddenly be inspired to cook your favorite meals. Press through. Many times you may feel more tension build at home. Satan tempted Jesus on the fast and we must expect the same. Discouragement may come in like a flood, but recognize the source and take your stand on the victory of Christ. The paradox is: fasting draws more demonic attacks, but is one of the things the Spirit uses to help us overcome the attacks of the enemy. Greater is He...

O. If you fail, don't give in to condemnation. Even though you may fail several times, God always extends grace. Just hit the 'delete' button and continue on your fast. Enemy: you hopeless failure. Experienced seasons: consistency, struggled, didn't do it. In the end it makes a big difference; in months and years! Fasting is a gift that we should embrace as part of our lifestyle. It is not meant to be used as a shot in the arm few times a year, but was designed to be a consistent part of our lives.

P. I urge most people to fast at least one day a week. Two days a week is better. It sounds worse then it really is. It is VERY doable. Fasting is normal and basic to the Christian life. Not radical and thus optional. How to prepare? Anyone who desire to live a fasted lifestyle must begin with a high vision, a vision to experience the fullness of what God wants to give you in this age. People fast because they understand the gap between what God wants to give and what they are actually experiencing. Without vision for growing more in God, we will not fast. What is the vision that you have for where your heart can go in God this life? We must have a vision for how far God will take our hearts in love, humility and revelation (highest lifestyle, 1Cor2:10)

Q. To start a fast begin to ask for Grace. Grace for fasting is available to everyone! I don't presume on yesterday's victory. The grace of fasting is a gift to the Church. We start by asking: "Lord, make we want to fast." Spiritual hunger is a divine gift that leads us to seek greater experiences of His love, regardless the cost. Jesus releases His power and presence to us in direct proportion to the measure of hunger for Him. A newly awakened interest in the things of God is not yet hunger. Hunger is when we cannot live without more, when we make radical changes in our lifestyle in order to pursue God. A good way to measure hunger is to measure the extent to which we rearrange our lives, money, comforts to pursue that for which we hunger.

R. Focus yourself why you fast (7 types of Biblical fasting). Choose which times: which days of the week. Choose which food fast (5 types of food fast). Choose when to pray and read the Word and what to read. This may seem obvious, but busyness and distractions can keep you from devotions and meditation. Storing up God's Word in our hearts is the way to freedom from earthly or sinful delights and the way to freedom and delight in God. What is prayer? It is talking to God. The only way the Spirit will conquer our soul is as we talk to God. If we will talk to the Spirit, then we will walk in the Spirit. And so sour in heavenly pleasures and delightfulness.

S. Fasting becomes easier the more we do it. The rhythm of the body changes. It is similar to working out. When we don't exercise regularly and then start, it's difficult at first. It is neither to hard nor too uncomfortable for us. Fasting in itself does not change us; the power of God does.

T. Exceptions. Pregnant woman or have health problems. Minors are discouraged from fasting food and should never engage without parents consent and oversight. Minors who desire to fast are encouraged to consider non-food abstentions, such as TV, movies, internet surfing, video games and other entertainment. The Bible never speaks of or calls children to engage in fasting.

U. Spiritual pride. Prideful elitism and self-congratulations for spiritual achievements are among the most common manifestations of spiritual pride. Fasting principle: don't ask, don't tell related to the details of what you do. Don't boast about your fast. Only tell when necessary: I won't eat...We find ourselves desiring to be recognized as one uniquely dedicated and close to God. By nature, we are desperate to appear closer to God than others. We want others to believe more about us than what is actually true. Another face of pride is: having an unholy confidence in judging people. Fasting provides a tremendous open door for religious arrogance.

V. Legalism and the religious spirit: Anyone who is not grounded in the grace of God should wait before they start fasting in more aggressive ways. Otherwise legalism may be strengthened in them as they fast. How do we know if we are operating in a spirit of legalism? Ask a few questions. Do we feel more confident before God with greater assurance because we are fasting? Do we tend to shrink back in shame when we are not fasting? If so, we know we are putting confidence in our fasting or in our dedication to God rather than His dedication to us.

W. Through fasting we increase in our passionate focus on God – it intensifies. We become immovable and steady, regardless of obstacles. Identity as a lover established, opinions of other lose some of their power. Monastic movement called this state: "detachment." Detachment is when we are no longer dominated by possessiveness, no longer living primarily before men, and we are freed from having our identity defined by what others say of us.

X. Most people are obsessed with themselves, but as we grow up we learn to restrain and cover up the expressions of our self-absorption. We learn to hide them with good manners so as to preserve our dignity before others. We are enslaved to thoughts of what we look like to others. When we've heard His voice and become secure in our identity, what we fear losing most is the anointing of the Spirit on our hearts, or the power to walk in obedience before Him. The main result of knowing who we are is fearlessness. We have contentment in God with holy detachment from our circumstances and position.

Y. Fasting is not neutral in its effects upon our lives. Whatever motivation we have when fasting, that is what is strengthened in us. If our motivation is to grow in love, then this is what will be strengthened in us. But if our motives are for self-exaltation, then negative things will be strengthened in us as we fast. Fasting sensitizes the human spirit to the spirit realm, including both the genuine and the occult realm. When people fast intensively, Satan may by giving them supernatural experiences that lead them into false doctrine. Safeguard: special effort to stay focused on intimacy with Jesus, connect to the Body in authentic relationship, immersed in the Word, even more as usual and open to correction from those in spiritual authority.

Z. Let's give ourselves to fasting: the benefits of fasting will become so great: you'll start loving it!